After the chaotic scrum of their failed assassination, it was something of a relief to be back in the tunnels, or at least the cleaner tunnels, those that ran alongside storage rooms and basements, rather than those that were sewers or great abyssal rents in the ground, the bottom beyond even her vision. Given how cavernous it was, it seemed somewhat surprising that Belazaan hadn’t collapsed in on itself over the years!

It would also be preferable if the tunnels and passageways were easier to traverse – while a certain amount of discomfort could be endured, having to slowly make an advance across a narrow beam was inconvenient, even before being scooped up by Semari and carried. Which was faster, but lacked a certain dignity, and she was less comfortable as a beast of burden then Stathis had been.

‘Do you even know which way to go? And could you kindly put me down?’

‘Yeah, think so. See those marks? That means there’s an entrance to the surface nearby, and a place that gives good food. Or possibly angry dogs, it’s a bit blurry.’

Janaxia glanced where Semari was looking, where charcoal had been used to daub vague shapes and curves onto the stone. It had deformed over time and been none-to-neat to start with, the lines merging into weeping blobs. One did appear to be a strange gestalt between a fang-faced hound and a bowl of food, with handles or ears coming off the bowl or head.

‘Hmm. Well, it would be nice to eat, but I think that our own safety should be a primary concern. Having Carissia attack us so directly is rather concerning!’

‘Yeah, and Parth and Hakara! Although I think they were holding back.’ Semari dumped Janaxia to the ground in what felt an excessively ungentle way, making her stagger and abrely get her feet under herself.

‘Parth and Hakara, you say? I didn’t see them, although that would explain the ice storm. It certainly didn’t feel like they were holding back! Those attacks seemed quite forceful.’

‘Didn’t see them either, but doubt there’s many other elven archers around. You’ve not had your throat slit, so I think there were holding back. Parth could’ve, like, ghosted out, appeared behind you and’, she ran a finger along her throat. ‘Glurk, thud!’ She mimicked falling over backwards, as though her throat had been cut. ‘You’re all squishy close up. And Hakara can do weird stuff with portals and things as well. Or just dispel your spells, make you naked, then blow you up.’

‘Yes, I suppose that would have been rather effective.’ Janaxia shivered. Hopefully Parthenelle wouldn’t appear through a random wall and assault her! Although down here, the tunnels twisted and curved enough that trying to track someone, even if you could walk through walls, was likely a challenge. ‘Carissia was certainly being rather forceful though.’

‘Yeah, she’s pissed. Even with everyone else around, she was still blasting pretty much full-power. And we didn’t get that guy, so we’re still stuck here!’

Vrintar held up a hand and they silenced themselves, cramming themselves into a too-small niche as another light approached. Vrintar closed the lens on her own lantern, plunging them into darkness, the surroundings going from being lit by the pale-yellow glow to being cast into gritty blacks and greys, at least to Janaxia’s vision.

It would be most advantageous to leave before she discovers our location and forces a confrontation. Her power is such that a loss seems all-but-assured if we are made to endure a direct conflict, and I have little desire for such a fight myself. The other light got closer, a small group dressed in light armour, ratting hounds trotting along behind. I think that those other attackers were concerning. They appeared to move with speed and skill, and to be after the same target. Although it was something of a confusing melee, I must confess. How would you judge their skill, as you both had rather more direct engagement with them?

Semari and Vrintar both looked at her, unable to speak without revealing themselves. Well, if they would only learn the appropriate skills, then they would be able to engage in silent conversation! Unless they had, and were in fact conferring telepathically between themselves? She shook her head, trying to dispel the paranoid thoughts.

I do hope Prince Anytha has healed from his attacks. Regardless, it seems worthy of note that the angel appeared again, although I wasn’t in direct danger. Perhaps it is keeping an eye on my general wellbeing? It certainly seems opposed to whatever those attackers were. I would have thought that being under the protective aegis of such a divine being would help convince Carissia that I am not some monster to be hunted down and slain as well, but she is worryingly persistent.

The other group moved past, and they were able to move through the passageways again without being observed.

‘Yeah, wonder what’s up with this angel? It’s, like, spirit-y and stuff, not like the last one.’

Oh? Do you have some information regarding that? Given the rarity of such beings, then I would surmise it to be the same being.

Semari didn’t meet her eyes for some reason, shifting around awkwardly. ‘Nah, before it was, like, more physical. I was actually conscious, trust me. Those shifty dudes are quick buggers though, and hard to put down.’

Vrintar spoke. ‘Fire or acid are the traditional remedies for such. Or drowning – they seem alive enough that I suspect they need to breath. They are fast and strong though, and their hands are sharp, even if their strikes are not as powerful as Semari’s. Perhaps it would be better to let Carissia deal with them? I have not heard of their like before, which is concerning.’

Janaxia nodded. ‘Yes, that would be preferable. Although engineering such a conflict may be a challenge, as we have little idea what they want or how they could be lured, other than apparently wanting the same target dead as we do. Semari, what is the prevailing underworld etiquette regarding such things? I would presume that we need to eliminate the target ourselves to be rewarded, if some other group or individual does the work, then we cannot claim the reward?’

‘Yeah, generally. Might be able to get some coin or something for goodwill, but we’re not getting full payment for someone else’s work. Unless we, like, let them do the job, then off them and say it was us all along. But that’s complicated, easier just to whack him ourselves, right? Even with his bodyguard, I reckon we can take him, at least if we can get him without getting all interrupted.’

‘Indeed. Although he will likely be more cautious now.’ They passed from rough-cut stone into an abandoned cellar, the finely-carved pillars hidden beneath thick layers of dust, statues of some long-forgotten potentate knocked over in the corners. ‘Most inconvenient, all told.’ Semari approached part of the wall, its rather obvious lack of dust showing that it could be moved or manipulated in some way, the track in the grime obvious even to Janaxia’s untrained eye.

Semari poked and prodded the wall, until one of the stones grated and slid to the side, the wall unlatching itself and falling open. Somewhat melodramatic, but it gave some additional protection. The underworld here seemed rather more literally extensive than she had thought! There must be miles of these tunnels stretching around beneath the city. While the canals and gondolas were certainly a more pleasant way to travel, they were also more overt, while this had rather more security. Although it was a struggle to keep up with Semari and Vrintar, who set an excessively brisk pace through the still silence.

A hand tapped her on the shoulder, making her jerk around, calling up mystical energy for protection, a bolt readying itself in her hand. A fight in those close confines would most definitely not play to her strengths! She relaxed when she saw it was the young girl from before, her hair still bound into braids, face still veiled, still wearing that dress that was too big for her. It seemed a touch impractical to have that much dragging cloth in this environment, but it was fine material, and she likely didn’t have much choice of what to wear.

Janaxia smiled at her, in what she hoped was a kindly, but not excessively friendly, fashion. What was the decorum here? Other than to keep a keen eye on one’s purse and any other valuables – balls, dinners and palaces she could manage, but the mode of address for an urchin was really more of Semari’s area of knowledge.

‘Greetings… child. How do you fare?’ That seemed suitable enough, as the girl walked close, eyes bright behind her veil. It really was an unusual way to dress – if nothing else, surely an urchin would wish to see as much as possible, not limit her vision? But maybe it was a token of her past? With her carriage and bearing, it seemed improbable that she was simply some urchin, she surely had greater blood within her.

The child reached out and took Janaxia’s hand in her own – it felt clean and dry, her skin slightly cool, but smooth and uncalloused. Was she perhaps some form of boss of her own gang? Her hands were certainly not those of some accustomed to doing much work, yet she was clearly enduring, even thriving, down here in the shadow world.

She gave a sudden hiss as a spark of light snapped between their hands, lighting their surrounds with a momentary burst of daylight, stinging Janaxia’s eyes.

‘The light! You should reject such things, Darkbinder.’ She gripped Janaxia’s hand, more tightly than seemed necessary, before starting to walk down the passageway they were in, giving Janaxia’s hand a slight tug, nails lightly pressing against Janaxia’s skin. ‘The darkness, is it not soothing and comforting? For more pleasing as a home than the searing, stinging light.’

Janaxia let herself be pulled forward, glad of the chance to walk with someone with shorter legs, with whom she could keep up. ‘Well, it can be relaxing, but I do rather enjoy the warmth of the sun. There is a certain pleasure to be found under the light, and going without can be rather bad for the skin.’ She glanced down – from the look of her skin, the girl could do with a little time in the sun herself, her skin somewhat beyond ‘pleasingly pale’ into a decidedly more unattractive ‘pallid’ tone. ‘And, of course, it does broaden one’s social opportunities. There are rather more people to meet than the vagabonds and rogues one may encounter down here.’

‘The light stings! It hurts.’ She sounded petulant now.

It was time for a little firmness – the child may have potential, but clearly needed a lot of work to be anywhere near to complete. ‘Nonsense. You have simply spent too long down here. If you can endure the glow of the lights in the Undergarden, then you can endure the sunlight. Perhaps I will take you above the surface myself and show you some of the delights to be had.’ With her clothing, she could perhaps pass as the eccentric daughter of some high house, although her table manners would likely be execrable. Much like, in fact, many actual high-bloods, sad to say.

‘The light hurt me before and chained me!’ She rattled her wrist, the sleeve falling back to reveal a metal manacle, a broken fragment of chain flicking about. Some corrupt branch of the priesthood? Well, such things were not entirely unknown, although the gods were usually able to keep them in line. Or Carissia or a similar servant of the gods would find out and destroy them herself!

‘That sounds unfortunate, but is no reason to isolate yourself.’ Janaxia let her voice harden slightly – it seemed the girl had no-one else to turn to for advice, and would likely wither and fade if left to her own devices. ‘Let me see that.’ She pulled the girl close, examining the manacle more carefully. The broken chain was covered with precisely-carved inscriptions, almost too small to see, characters of the Unreadable Tongue picked out in exacting detail. It seemed unusual to use what must be a rare item on a common slave – maybe she truly was the daughter of some emperor or king, exiled or abandoned here? Janaxia flicked the manacle, finding the metal solid, a hairline crack marking where it was sealed, some magic involved in keeping it shut. That could prove inconvenient – the girl was obviously still young enough to grow, a process that would be hampered by having overly-tight metal on one arm.

She tried blasting it with a bolt of magic, the darkness hitting the metal and fading without effect, lines of shadow rippling over the metal. ‘It appears quite tough. I do know someone skilled in the more mundane intricacies of magic that may be able to help, but she is rather… inaccessible at the moment. I assume it is resistant to mundane assault? That does complicate matters.’

The girl tugged her sleeve back, hiding it from view. ‘The light only harms! It must be destroyed, that I and my kin may rule.’

‘Nonsense. Simply because you have had a few negative experiences, is no reason to remain in those rather dismal surroundings in perpetuity. I will introduce you to a few eateries that I’m sure you will enjoy, and there are other pleasures that you will be able to appreciate when you are older. And, fine though that dress is, you will need something in better repair and fitted to you. And possibly more than a single outfit, to boot?’ Semari and Vrintar must have moved far enough ahead to be out of sight, the passageway long, dark and featureless, a simple tunnel cut through rock. ‘What of your kin as well? I believe you mentioned some sibling spat. Perhaps this would give more avenues to aid with that?’

The girl hissed again, her hand tightening against Janaxia’s, but more companionably than before. ‘That is something for the future. I remain unsure as to their desires – while we did work together before, we have not seen each other for some time. Although I would rather they be chained to my own will, of course.’

Janaxia nodded. Siblings could be troublesome indeed! Kita was starting to fall into patterns of obedience, but would require much refinement to be anything useful. ‘Are you the eldest? Do you claim precedence amongst them?’

‘We were made in the same moment, equal and bound to each other. But I would rather they be subordinate to me, as I am clearly superior.’ She tossed her hair in a rather winsome gesture. ‘We have worked together, to great effect in the past, but then we were defeated, separated and bound.’

‘Ah, that does explain the shackle. You have the natural grace of one of high birth.’ Although triplet heirs to some domain somewhere? She would have expected to have heard about such a thing. Maybe they were from some petty border kingdom, barely acknowledged beyond its own borders. If there were some power associated with their bloodline, that would explain the enchanted shackles as well. Although the girl was impressively young to be plotting some form of counter-coup, along with wanting to ensure she had primacy amongst her siblings. A life amongst these tunnels would likely sharpen her instincts, were she to survive, and ready her for leading a court.

‘I assume that your parents were slain when you were overthrown?’

‘We have no parents. We were born of darkness, to fight and conquer. To bind, to fight and to call. I am the binder, the knower, the consumer of wisdom. We would rule this place, reshape it as we wish, make it a place of cool darkness, and eliminate the light forevermore.’

The girl certainly didn’t lack for ambition! Although she might need to free herself from the shackle and collar first and then prove her dominion over her siblings before attempting anything more grandiose. ‘Perhaps you should aim for something for a little more achievable first? I assume you have some skill at magic? Perhaps raise a group here, and then expand? Many bloodlines have been started from such humble beginnings. Or, in your case, restarted, I imagine. You have two spare siblings that can be married off for political advantage, that could be useful.’

The girl cocked her head, dull metal of her collar visible from beneath the collar of her dress, then laughed, full and uproarious, before coughing and covering her mouth in a rather more genteel fashion and giggling like a lady should.

‘Neither is the sort that I can imagine in such a thing! We are scarcely the sort to bind ourselves to common mortals. Only the most exceptional can draw our attention.’ She stepped in close to Janaxia, her presence strangely overpowering, despite her slight stature. ‘You are worthy of my time, Darkbinder Janaxia Uth Tremari.’

‘I think you are, perhaps, a little young for me? And a little petite. Maybe when you are a little older, then perhaps something can be arranged?’

The smile the girl gave her was rather too fanged to be entirely friendly, but at least the girl seemed amiable, if a little over-eager. She certainly seemed to have the drive to over-awe her siblings and make them obedient to her will, wherever they may be. Although if she were the scion of some magical dynasty, they might have powers of their own.

‘I have waited long enough! I want power! And to be pampered and looked after! To eat the finest foods and drink fine wines, and have the best lovers. I have been alone so long, that I deserve that much, at the least!’ Her tone now had an unpleasant whine beneath the words, setting Janaxia’s nerves on edge.

‘Those are certainly admirable and desirable goals. Although you are, I think, a few years short of hankering after lovers, or at least those without rather worrying predilections. But you should focus on your arcane prowess – that will be the basis of any victory for you, I feel. I take it you have no mentor?’

‘I have fathomed the secrets of the cosmos. The weft and weave of this world is as open to me as the true text is to you. The prattling of those robed fools that call themselves “wizards” as they throw around their formulae and speak of theories and theorems! One must simply will the world to comply, and it will do so.’ She gestured with a hand, darkness rising up and taking a humanoid form, albeit with rather more spines and horns than normal, the silhouette otherwise that of a smartly-dressed servant. It had a cloth draped over one arm, the other holding a bottle. It mimicked pouring the wine, the girl suddenly holding a shadowed wineglass.

‘An impressive display, but I much prefer real wine. Perhaps you could assemble a group of fellow rogues and vagabonds to assist you in some heist? I believe that is a traditional way of assembling wealth and forging connections with useful allies.’ Her skill was clear – such shadowcrafting was impressive. Janaxia called up her own powers and used them to probe the shadowy form. It was indeed purely illusionary, without any physical form. The shadows rippled like water as she pressed through them, although the girl had sufficient mental forbearance not to show any discomfort at the interference to her spell, before it winked out of existence.

‘Darkbinder, you should beware. You are powerful, but there are those that would destroy you. And we would work well together!’ She spun around, her dress twirling out as she smiled, somewhat less fanged this time. ‘You can help me come to my full power! And then we can rule together. With whatever pawns my siblings have acquired, but under us.’

Janaxia patted the girl on the head, brushing away a few snarls and tangles that had formed amongst the glossy strands since they had last met. ‘I admire your ambition, but I do have allies already. Perhaps when you have refined yourself a little more? Or managed to shed your shackles? They do seem somewhat limiting.’

‘They bind me.’ She hissed again and struck her other hand against the metal, sparking with purple light. ‘Attain your true power, and you can free me.’

Janaxia plucked another mote of dust from the girl’s hair. ‘Well, I will certainly aim to improve myself. Although removing enchantments is not, precisely, my strongest area. I will endeavour to do what I can. Although perhaps you can help me? If you have any contacts that know the location of one “Wendal Perionor”. Once he is eliminated, then I may be more at liberty to aid you.’

‘He is but a mortal, slay him. But beware, there are others that mean you harm. The scourging light seeks to slay you, and shards of my sibling are hunting as well. He is broken and weakened, you could claim him as a servant, and make him our slave.’

The tunnel suddenly shimmered, as Semari stepped back around a sudden corner ahead and poked her in the shoulder. Sudden tiredness overwhelmed Janaxia, and she supressed a yawn.

‘You’ve not been spooky or eldritch for ages, you feeling OK? Normally you would’ve complained by now.’

Janaxia glanced around – where had the girl gone? And the passageway seemed to have changed, from bare black rock to scuffed and battered brickwork. She must have transported herself away somehow, or darted into a concealed entrace.

‘I was simply… ruminating. There is much to be done. And we have little time to do it. I don’t suppose you happened to see where the girl went?’

‘What girl? You’ve been mumbling to yourself. Did some creepy giggling. You’re not going, like, evil queen again? Your clothing’s gone spiky and sexy again. Uh, for the record, I’m not really into you. So don’t be getting any ideas.’

Janaxia glanced down at herself – her clothing had settled itself into being tight, sleek and black, studded with spikes over her shoulders and waist, with gauze over her body, a capelet fluttering behind her. A little showy, but the leather trousers were rather fetching, with red lacing up the sides, showing off her toned thighs and calves. She didn’t remember changing, but it seemed appropriate for the moment – they were, after all, attempting an assassination for an underworld boss.

‘Uh, you OK? You kinda spaced out again. Is that a crown now?’

Janaxia felt on her head – there was a thin band of metal there, ridged and spiked, a dark ruby set over her forehead. She didn’t remember adding it, but it felt right. ‘Yes. I think it adds a rather regal note, do you not agree?’

‘Isn’t it, like, all wound through your hair? Gonna hurt if anyone pulls on it. Looks spiky. Anyway, let’s get out of here, go get some food and rest. Try not to be spooky if you can?’